РефератыИностранный языкChCholera The Forgotten Disease Essay Research Paper

Cholera The Forgotten Disease Essay Research Paper

Cholera The Forgotten Disease Essay, Research Paper


Cholera the Forgotten Disease


It seems every time we hear of a major flood or earthquake in a developing


country, we hear once again about cholera. Cholera has been very rare in industrial


nations, such as the USA, for the last 100 years, however, what we do not realize is that


cholera is endemic in many small countries which have limited drinking water and


sewage treatment facilities.


Caused by an infection of bacterium Vibrio Cholerae in the intestine, a cholera


infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes is severe. Symptoms appear


2 to 3 days after initial exposure. Approximately one in 20 infected persons display


symptoms of water diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps; this rapid lose of body fluids


leads to dehydration and sometimes shock. These fluids must be replaced either


intravenously or by drinking liquids such as fruit juice, soup, or fluids called oral


rehydration salts, which replace electrolytes. Antibiotics may be proscribed to shorten the


duration of diarrhea and excretion of bacteria in feces. Without treatment, death may


occur in hours.


Although cholera can be life-threating, it can easily be prevented and treated. A


vaccine for cholera is available; however, it confers only brief, 2 to 6 months, and


incomplete immunity, only about 50% effective. It is not recommended. Since cholera is


still common in other parts of the world, everyone, especially travelers, should be aware


of how the dise

ase is transmitted and what can be done to prevent it.


The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore,


casual contact with an infected person is not a risk for becoming ill. A person may get


cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae


bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an


infected person entering the main water source. The cholera bacterium may also live in


brackish rivers and coastal waters. Shellfish from infected waters can cause infection.


Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables irrigated with tainted water can also infect.


Prevention of cholera is easy. When in a possibly infected area: cook the food


properly, eat foods promptly after their preparation including shellfish, fruits and


vegetables, avoid drinking untreated water, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap


often.


Cholera will not have great impact on me as a surgical technologist. It is not


common in the United States, and since it is not transmitted directly from person to


person, there is no risk of the Operating room staff transmitting the disease from the


patient. If an ill patient is scheduled, elective surgery will be postponed, and in the case


of emergency surgery on someone with cholera, their fluids will be monitored


meticulously.


In closing, cholera, although not prevalent, is a threat to world travelers. Education of


the causes, treatment, and prevention are a traveler?s first line of defense

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